<p><a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/2025-toronto-maple-leafs-polar-opposites-previous-versions-playoffs">The Battle of Ontario</a> is set as the Toronto Maple Leafs will face off in the playoffs against the Ottawa Senators for the first time in <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/great-moments-battle-of-ontario-history-darcy-tucker-squares-off-ottawa-senators-bench">over two decades</a> starting this Sunday.</p>
<p>Now almost two years into his tenure as Leafs general manager, it&#8217;s the latest test for Brad Treliving and his roster as they look to improve on another first-round exit last year.</p>
<p>Treliving spoke to media Friday, previewing the Leafs&#8217; first-round matchup, as he touched on Senators head coach Travis Green, who is now carrying them to their first playoffs since 2017 during his first season with the club.</p>
<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s really instilled a real defensive conscience,&#8221; Treliving said of Green. &#8220;Checking, they check and to have success you have to check and they do. And then you got a Vezina goaltender (Linus Ullmark) in the net so they present a lot of challenges.&#8221;</p>
<p>Between Ottawa&#8217;s defensive mindset and star goaltender Linus Ullmark, there&#8217;s no doubt that the Leafs will have their work cut out for them. In three contests this season, Toronto only managed three goals, as <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-we-can-learn-ottawa-senators-this-year-head-to-head-matchups">Ottawa swept the season series</a>. Ullmark in particular was strong against the Leafs this season, with a shutout in one of his two contests against them. Treliving will have to hope his star players and acquired depth pieces step up in facing the Swedish netminder, who is currently riding a four-game win streak.</p>
<p>One player in particular that Treliving had high praise for Friday was Mitch Marner, the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-mitch-marner-4th-player-franchise-history-100-point-season">dominant playmaker who recently hit 100 points</a> for the first time in his career, finishing fifth in the league with 102 points overall.</p>
<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s been a leader,&#8221; Treliving said. &#8220;He&#8217;s been a top player and I think he&#8217;s in a real good spot.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">On the eve of the playoffs, Brad Treliving says Mitch Marner has had a &quot;fabulous&quot; season for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/leafs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#leafs</a>. </p>
<p>&quot;He&#39;s been a leader, he&#39;s been a top player and I think he&#39;s in a real good spot.&quot;</p>
<p>&mdash; Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1913261942753345786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>A pending UFA, Marner&#8217;s performance in this year&#8217;s postseason will likely have a large impact on what kind of contract he signs in the offseason, whether with Toronto or elsewhere. Treliving&#8217;s words show that the organization has faith in him, and seem to be trying to keep good will with him heading into negotiations, especially after he was <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/mitch-marner-asked-waive-no-trade-clause-had-feeling-something-might-happen-toronto-maple-leafs">asked to waive his no-trade clause</a> at the deadline this season.</p>
<p>Speaking on the Leafs injuries going into this playoff series, Treliving remained traditionally mum on the matter, simply saying &#8220;we&#8217;ll see,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/nickbarden/status/1913262434455798116">per Nick Barden of The Hockey News.</a> David Kampf, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are currently listed as day-to-day, while Jani Hakanpää still sits on LTIR. It appears for now that we will have to wait until weekend skates to get a better idea of who will be in the roster come Game One on Sunday night.</p>
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<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/2025-toronto-maple-leafs-polar-opposites-previous-versions-playoffs">The Battle of Ontario</a> is set as the Toronto Maple Leafs will face off in the playoffs against the Ottawa Senators for the first time in <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/great-moments-battle-of-ontario-history-darcy-tucker-squares-off-ottawa-senators-bench">over two decades</a> starting this Sunday.

Now almost two years into his tenure as Leafs general manager, it's the latest test for Brad Treliving and his roster as they look to improve on another first-round exit last year.

Treliving spoke to media Friday, previewing the Leafs' first-round matchup, as he touched on Senators head coach Travis Green, who is now carrying them to their first playoffs since 2017 during his first season with the club.

"He's really instilled a real defensive conscience," Treliving said of Green. "Checking, they check and to have success you have to check and they do. And then you got a Vezina goaltender (Linus Ullmark) in the net so they present a lot of challenges."

Between Ottawa's defensive mindset and star goaltender Linus Ullmark, there's no doubt that the Leafs will have their work cut out for them. In three contests this season, Toronto only managed three goals, as <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-we-can-learn-ottawa-senators-this-year-head-to-head-matchups">Ottawa swept the season series</a>. Ullmark in particular was strong against the Leafs this season, with a shutout in one of his two contests against them. Treliving will have to hope his star players and acquired depth pieces step up in facing the Swedish netminder, who is currently riding a four-game win streak.

One player in particular that Treliving had high praise for Friday was Mitch Marner, the <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-mitch-marner-4th-player-franchise-history-100-point-season">dominant playmaker who recently hit 100 points</a> for the first time in his career, finishing fifth in the league with 102 points overall.

"He's been a leader," Treliving said. "He's been a top player and I think he's in a real good spot."

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1913261942753345786

A pending UFA, Marner's performance in this year's postseason will likely have a large impact on what kind of contract he signs in the offseason, whether with Toronto or elsewhere. Treliving's words show that the organization has faith in him, and seem to be trying to keep good will with him heading into negotiations, especially after he was <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/mitch-marner-asked-waive-no-trade-clause-had-feeling-something-might-happen-toronto-maple-leafs">asked to waive his no-trade clause</a> at the deadline this season.

Speaking on the Leafs injuries going into this playoff series, Treliving remained traditionally mum on the matter, simply saying "we'll see," <a href="https://twitter.com/nickbarden/status/1913262434455798116">per Nick Barden of The Hockey News.</a> David Kampf, Jake McCabe, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are currently listed as day-to-day, while Jani Hakanpää still sits on LTIR. It appears for now that we will have to wait until weekend skates to get a better idea of who will be in the roster come Game One on Sunday night.
<h3>Sponsored by bet365</h3>

Leafs GM Brad Treliving outlines challenges of facing Senators, praises Marner ahead of Battle of Ontario

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